Author. 



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Title. 



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Imprint . 



16—47372-2 OPO 



For the Settling of the School Question 



The Giving oi Religious Education, 






The Most Eev. FRANCIS SATOLLI, 

ft' 



Archbishop of Lepanto, 
Delegate of the Apostolic See to the United States of America, 



THE ARCHBISHOPS ASSEMBLED IN NEW YORK. 






Printed by JOHN MUEPHY & CO., 

Printers to the Holy See, 
BALTIMOKE, U. S. A. • 






Copyright, 1892, by John Murphy & Co. 



FOR THE SETTLING OF THE SCHOOL QUESTION, 

ASH 

THE GIVING OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION. 



All care must be taken to erect Catholic schools, 
to enlarge and improve those already established, 
and to make them equal to the public schools in 
teaching and in discipline. 

Cone. Plen. Bait. III., Xo. 197, p. 101. 



II. 



When there is no Catholic school at all. or when 
the one that is available is little fitted for giving 
the children an education in keeping with their 
condition, then the public schools may be attended 
with a safe conscience, the danger of perversion 
being rendered remote by opportune remedial and 
precautionary measures : a matter that is to be 

3 



left to the conscience and judgment of the Ordi- 
naries. 

Ibid., No. 198, p. 103. 



III. 



We enact and command that no one shall be 
allowed to teach in a parochial school who has 
not proven his fitness for the position by previous 
examination. No priest shall have the right to 
employ any teacher, male or female, in his school, 
without a certificate of ability or diploma from the 
Diocesan Board of Examiners. 

Ibid., No. 203, p. 108. 

IY. 

Normal Schools, as they are called, are to be 
established where they are wanting and are evi- 
dently necessary. 

Ibid., Xo. 205, ]). 110. 



We strictly forbid any one, whether Bishop or 
Priest, and this is the express prohibition <>t' the 
Sovereign Pontiff through the Sacred Congr< 
tion, either by act or by threat t<> exclude from the 
Sacraments as unworthy, parents [who choose to 



send their children to the public schools]. As 
regards the children themselves, this enactment 
applies with still greater force. 

IMcL No. 198, p. 104. 
Conf. Tit. VI. Cap. I., II.; Tit. VII. 



VI. 



To the Catholic Church belongs the duty and 
the divine right of teaching all nations to believe 
the truth of the Gospel, and to observe whatsoever 
Christ commanded (Matth., xxviii, 19) ; in her 
likewise is vested the divine right of instructing 
the young in so far as theirs is the Kingdom of 
Heaven (Mark, x, 14) (Conf. Cone. Bait. PI. Ill, 
No. 194) ; that is to say, she holds for herself 
the right of teaching the truths of faith and the 
law of morals in order to bring up youth in the 
habits of a Christian life. Hence, absolutely and 
universally speaking, there is no repugnance in 
their learning the first elements and the higher 
branches of the arts and the natural sciences in 
public schools controlled by the State, whose office 
it is to provide, maintain and protect everything 
by which its citizens are formed to moral good- 
ness, while they live peaceably together, with a 
sufficiency of temporal goods, under laws pro- 
mulgated by civil authority. 



For the rest, the provisions of the Council of 
Baltimore are yet in force, and, in a general way, 
will remain so; to wit: "Not only out of our 
paternal love do we exhort Catholic parents, but we 
command them, by all the authority we possess, to 
procure a truly Christian and Catholic education for 
the beloved offspring given them of God, born 
again in Baptism unto Christ and destined for 
Heaven, to shield and secure them throughout 
childhood and youth from the dangers <>f a merely 
worldly education, and therefore to send them to 
parochial or other truly Catholic schools." United 
with this duty are the rights of parents, which no 
civil law or authority can violate or weaken. 

VII. 

The Catholic Church in general, and especially 
the Holy See, far from condemning or treating 
with indifference the public schools, desirea rather 
that, by the joint action of civil and ecclesiastical 
authorities, there should be public schools in every 
State, according as the circumstances of the people 
require, for the cultivation of the useful arts and 
natural sciences; but the Catholic Church shrinks 
from those features of public school- which are 
opposed to the truth of Christianity and to mor- 
ality; and since, in the interest of society itself 
these objectionable features are removable, there- 



fore, not only the Bishops, but the citizens at large 
should labor to remove them, in virtue of their 
own right and in the cause of morality. 

VIII. 

It is long since the Holy See, after consultation 
with the Bishops of the United States of America, 
decreed that parish schools and other institutions 
under the direction of the Bishops, each according 
to the conditions of its own diocese, were opportune 
and necessary for Catholic youth, from the fact 
that it was held for certain that the public schools 
bore within themselves a proximate danger to faith 
and morals, for various reasons {Cone. PI. Bait. 
III., No. 194, seq. ; App., p. 279) ; viz: because 
in the public schools a purely secular education is 
given, — inasmuch as it excludes all teaching of 
religion, — because teachers are chosen indiscrimi- 
nately from every sect, and no law prevents them 
from working the ruin of youth, — so that they are 
at liberty to instil errors and the germs of vice in 
tender minds. Likewise, certain corruption seemed 
to impend from the fact that in these schools, or at 
least in many of them, children of both sexes are 
brought together for their lessons in the same room. 

Wherefore, if it be clear that in a given locality, 
owing to the wiser dispositions of public authorities, 
or the watchful prudence of School Board, teachers 



and parents, the above named dangers to faith and 
morals disappear, then it is lawful for Catholic 
parents to send their children to these schools, to 
acquire the elements of letters and arts, provided 
the parents themselves do not neglect their most 
serious duty, and the pastors of souls put forth 
every effort, to instruct the children and train them 
in all that pertains to Catholic worship and life. 

IX. 

It is left to the judgment and the wisdom of the 
Ordinaries to decide whether, in a certain part of 
their respective dioceses, a parochial school can be 
built and kept up in a fitting condition, not inferior 
to the public schools, taking into consideration the 
temporal condition of the parents, while graver 
needs for procuring their spiritual welfare and the 
decent support of the Church are pressing. It will 
be well, therefore, as was the wont of our fore- 
fathers, and as was done in the early days of the 
Church, to establish weekly classes of Catechism, 
which all the children of the parish should attend j 
for the better success of this measure, Lei the eeal 
of pastors in fulfilling their duty, and the love of 
Catholic parents, leave no effort nnspared. (Cf. 
Cone. PI. Bait. III., No. 198.) 



No reproach, either in public or in private, shall 
be cast upon Catholic parents who send their chil- 
dren to private schools, or to academies where a 
better education is given under the direction of 
religious, or of approved and Catholic persons. If 
they make sufficient provision for the religious 
training of their children, let them be free to 
secure in other ways that education which the 
position of their family requires. 

XI. 

It is greatly to be desired, and will be a most 
happy arrangement, if the Bishop agree with the 
civil authorities or with the members of the School 
Board, to conduct the school with mutual attention 
and due consideration for their respective rights. 

While there are teachers of any description for 
the secular branches, who are legally inhibited 
from offending Catholic religion and morality, let 
the right and duty of the Church obtain of teach- 
ing the children Catechism, in order to remove 
danger to their faith and morals from any quarter 
whatsoever. 

It seems well to quote here the words of our 
Holy Father Leo XIII. (See the Pope's letter 
to the Archbishop of New York and to the Bishops 



10 

of the Province) : " We further desire you to strive 
earnestly that the various local authorities, firmly 
convinced that nothing is more conducive to the 
welfare of the commonwealth than religion, should 
by wise legislation provide that the system of 
education which is maintained at the public ex- 
pense, and to which therefore Catholics also con- 
tribute their share, be in no way prejudicial to 
their conscience or religion. For we are persuaded 
that even your fellow-citizens who differ from us 
in belief, with their characteristic intelligence and 
prudence, will readily set aside all suspicions and 
all views unfavorable to the Catholic church, and 
willingly acknowledge her merit, as the one that 
dispelled the darkness of paganism by the light 
of the Gospel, and created a new society disting- 
uished by the lustre of christian virtues and by the 
cultivation of all that refines. We do not think 
that any one there, after looking into these tilings 
clearly, will let Catholic parents be forced to erect 
and support schools which they cannot use for the 
instruction of their children." 

XII. 

As for those Catholic children that in great 
numbers are educated in the public schools, where 
now, not without danger, they receive no religious 

instruction at all, strenuous efforts should be made 



11 



not to leave them without sufficient and seasonable 
instruction in Catholic faith and practice. We 
know by experience that not all our Catholic chil- 
dren are found in our Catholic schools. Statistics 
show that hundreds of thousands of Catholic chil- 
dren in the United States of America attend schools 
which are under the control of State Boards, and 
in which, for that reason, teachers of every denomi- 
nation are engaged. Beyond all doubt, the one 
thing necessary, i. e., religious and moral education 
according to Catholic principles, is not to be treated 
either lightly or with delay, but on the contrary 
with all earnestness and energy. 

The adoption of one of three plans is recom- 
mended, the choice to be made according to local 
circumstances in the different States and various 
personal relations. 

The first consists in an agreement between the 
Bishop and the members of the School Board, 
whereby they, in a spirit of fairness and good will, 
allow the Catholic children to be assembled during 
free time and taught the Catechism ; it would also 
be of the greatest advantage if this plan were not 
confined to the primary schools, but were extended 
likewise to the high schools and colleges, in the 
form of a free lecture. 

The second : to have a catechism class outside 
the public school building, and also classes of 
higher Christian doctrine, where, at fixed times, 



12 

the Catholic children would assemble with diligence 
and pleasure, induced thereto by the authority <>f 
their parents, the persuasion of their pastors, and 
the hope of praise and rewards. 

The third plan does not seem at first sight so 
suitable, but is bound up more intimately with the 
duty of both parents and pastors. Pastors should 
unceasingly urge upon parents that most important 
duty, imposed both by natural and by divine law, 
of bringing up their children in sound morality 
and Catholic faith. Besides, the instruction of 
children appertains to the very essence of the pas- 
toral charge; let the pastor of souls Bay to them 
with the Apostle: " My little children, of whom I 
am in labor again until Christ be formed in you." 
(Gal, iv, 19.) Let him have classes of children in 
the parish such as have been established in Rome 
and many other places, and even in churches in 
this country, with very happy results. 

Nor let him, with little prudence, show less love 
for the children that attend the public schools 
than for those that attend the parochial; on the 
contrary, stronger marks of loving solicitude are to 
be shown them ; the Sunday school and the hour 
for Catechism, should be devoted to them in a 
special manner. And to cultivate this field, lot the 
pastor call to his aid other priests, religious, and 
even suitable members of the laity, in order thai 
what is supremely necessary be wanting to no child. 



13 

XIII. 

For the standing and growth of Catholic schools, 
it seems that care should be taken that the teachers 
prove themselves qualified, not only by previous 
examination before the Diocesan Board and by a 
certificate or diploma received from it, but also by 
having a teacher's diploma from the School Board 
of the State, awarded after successful examination. 
This is urged, first, so as not to appear regardless, 
without reason, of what public authority requires 
for teaching. Secondly, a better opinion of Catholic 
schools will be created. Thirdly, greater assurance 
will be given to parents that in Catholic schools 
there is no deficiency to render them inferior to 
public schools ; that, on the contrary, everything 
is done to make Catholic schools equal to public 
schools, or even superior. Fourthly, and lastly, we 
think that this plan would prepare the way for the 
State to see, along with the recognized and tested 
fitness of the teachers, that the laws are observed 
in all matters pertaining to the arts and sciences, 
to method and pedagogics, and to whatever is ordi- 
narily required to promote the stability and useful- 
ness of the schools. 

XIV. 

It is necessary that what are called Xormal 
Schools should reach such efficiency in preparing 



14 

teachers of letters, arts and sciences, that their 
graduates shall not fail to obtain the Diploma 
of the State. For the sake of the Catholic cause, 
let there be among laymen a growing rivalry 

to take the diploma and doctorate so that, pos- 
sessed of the knowledge and qualifications requisite 
for teaching, they may compete for and honorably 
obtain, positions in the public Gymnasia, Lyceums 
and scientific institutions. 

The knowledge of truth of every kind, straight- 
forward justice united with charity, the effulgence 
and appreciation of the liberal arts — these are the 
bulwarks of the church. 



All the above was read and considered in 
the meeting of the Archbishops, the difficulties 
answered, and the requisite cUteraHons made, 
November 17th, 1892. 



Prayeb 

For the Necessifirs of the Catholic Church. 

God, unchangeable )><»\\<t and light eternal, 
mercifully regard 1 1 1 - - wonderful mystery of thy 
whole Chmvli. and peacefully effect l>y thy eternal 

decree the work of human salvation ; and may the 



15 

whole world experience and see what was cast 
down, raised up ; what was grown old, renovated ; 
and all things through Him return to a perfect 
state, from Whom they received their beginning, 
our Lord Jesus Christ thy Son. 

(From the Boman Missal.) 



